Summary4 min read

Harold’s Old Time Radio — The Singing Sam Story: “Nobody”

Episode Date: August 31, 2025
Podcast Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio

Overview:

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio transports listeners back to the golden era before television, when families gathered around the radio for comfort, laughter, and song. The feature presentation is a vintage musical and comic performance recognized as “The Singing Sam Story: Nobody.” It combines sung and spoken word, comedic sketches, and slice-of-life storytelling, all with the wry humor and rhythm endemic to classic radio variety shows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Lament of “Nobody” – The Central Refrain

A repeated melodic phrase forms the backbone of the episode, humorously examining the idea that favor, fortune, and affection seldom come the narrator’s way.
With each verse, familiar life situations are described, always ending with the punchline: “Who does that? Nobody.”

Example verses:

When comfort is needed during tough times, “who soothes my thumping, bumping brain?...Nobody.”
When hungry and cold, “who says, son, here’s two bits? ... Nobody.”
In moments requiring generosity or praise, again: “Nobody.”

Notable Quote:

“I ain’t never done nothing to nobody, I ain’t never got nothing from nobody no time, and until I get something from somebody sometime, I don’t intend to do nothing for nobody no time.”
— (00:55)

2. Humorous Vignettes: Life's Comic Misses

Personal Shortcomings and Irony
- The narrator never receives lucky breaks or kind gestures—comically emphasizing self-deprecation.
- Even when praised or rewarded, the gift is irony itself (“That salt is the bathroom? Who does that? Nobody.” 01:38).
Missed Opportunities for Glory
- The story follows unlikely chances for heroism or notoriety, but always with the narrator wisely ducking away.
  - On the suggestion of catching escaped Bengal tigers, he quips:
    
    “Somebody’s gotta go out and get them cats ... Somebody else, not me.” (06:37)

3. Ghostly Comedy & Superstitions

Narrative turns towards lighthearted ghost stories and superstitions, highlighting wit and comic timing.

Characters discuss bringing the uncle back from the dead, resulting in comical protestations:

“If he comes in, I’m going out. It may be the window, it may be the door, but I’m going out!” (04:38)
- The humor persists—if the door is blocked, “that little bit old hole in the lock won’t be plenty big enough for me.” (05:01)

4. Comic Romance & Awkward Situations

The theme of convenience vs. inconvenience is played out in a classic romantic farce.

The narrator visits Ms. Cinder Brown while her husband is out (“Well, that was convenient.”)
The situation soon turns inconvenient when Mr. Brown returns:

“She was reclining peacefully on my knee, when I heard something like a key, and Mr. Brown walked right in on me. Boys, that was inconvenient.” (10:04)

5. Luck and Games of Chance

The episode closes with tales of gambling and luck, swinging between streaks of “convenience” and misfortune.
- Lucky dice rolls lead to wins:
  
  “Them bones they sure did treat me nice, for every time that I got to die I made 7 or 11 twice ... that was real convenient.” (11:18)
- But fate turns:
  
  “Then came a guy named Jimbo Black, he faded me for all my jacks, when he took all I had and won back. Brother, that was inconvenient.” (12:30)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Recurring refrain:
"I ain't never done nothing to nobody... until I get something from somebody sometime, I don't intend to do nothing for nobody no time."
— (Repeated throughout: 00:55, 01:58, etc.)
On Superstition:
"If he comes in, I’m going out. Yes sir, I’m going out. Now, it may be the window and it may be the door, but I’m going out."
— (04:38)
On Romance Gone Wrong:
“She was reclining peacefully on my knee / When I heard something like a key / and Mr. Brown walked right in on me / Boys, that was inconvenient.”
— (10:04)

Timestamp Guide to Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|----------------------------------------------| | 00:38 | “Nobody” theme song and introduction | | 01:20 | Comedic verses about generosity and fortune | | 04:00 | Ghost story and superstition skit | | 06:37 | “Somebody else, not me” – escaped tigers | | 08:05 | Gambling and dice games | | 10:00 | Comedy of convenience and inconvenience | | 12:30 | Jimbo Black takes all the winnings |

Conclusion

This episode is a prime example of golden age radio variety, blending clever lyrics, spoken word, musical interludes, and vaudeville humor. “The Singing Sam Story: Nobody” winks at its audience, ensuring laughter with poignant observations about luck, love, fear, and human nature—always returning to the central punchline: that sometimes, when life calls for heroes or handouts, “Nobody” is there. A must-listen for those seeking classic entertainment and comic relief from a bygone era.

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Transcript2 lines

[00:02]
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[00:38]
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When life seems full of clouds and rain and I'm filled with naught but pain who soothes my thumping, bumping brain? Who does that? Nobody. When winter comes with snow and sleet and me with hunger and cold feet who says, son, here's two bits Going out and getting something to eat who says that? Nobody. I ain't never done nothing to nobody I ain't never got nothing from nobody no time and until I get something from somebody sometimes I don't intend to do nothing for nobody no time. When summer comes all cool and clear and friends they all seem drawing near who says, son, come on in here and have a beer who says that, huh? Nobody. You know I had a steak some time ago with salt I sprinkled it all and oh, who said, look out there, boy, that salt is the bathroom? Who does that? Nobody. I ain't never done nothing to nobody I ain't never got nothing from nobody no time and until I get something from somebody sometime I don't intend to do nothing for nobody no time. When I try hard and scheme and plan look as good as they are 10 who says, look at that handsome man who says that, huh? Nobody. When all day long things go amiss and I go home to find some bliss who walks up and gives me a great big smack and kiss? Who does that, huh? Nobody. I ain't never done nothing to nobody I ain't never got nothing from nobody no time and until I get something from something, somebody sometime I don't intend to do nothing for nobody no time Now Old dam held a busy sea and had a home each week or so the ghosty talk and meek folk walk who died long years ago now Rufus Brown just dropped around to have his talking Red said, Nam's the ruth to learn the truth I'm gonna bring your uncle from the dead he's coming now we gonna turn the lights down low Drew said, perhaps you know a lot, sister but here's one thing that you don't know if he comes in, I'm going out yes, sir, I'm going out now it may be the window and it may be the doe, but I'm going out. And what is more, if he comes in, no matter when it be, if the door is blocked, that little bit old hole in the lock won't be plenty big enough for me. Yes, sir. Now, there was one night called to see Ms. White. And as he sat and held her hand. You know, I hate. He said, a man is afraid, a hero. I think he's just drained. I just suppose for fun that some burglar, hon, could come butting in on us too. You know, as I'm a seat, I believe I'd faint. Tell me, honey, what you do. Watch your mind. What can that person be? You says, look here, honey, I don't know who tis. And I ain't gonna wait here to see you. Oh, the he comes in, I'm going out. Yes, sir, I'm going out. Now, it may be the wind and it may be the doe, but I'm going out. And what is more, if he comes in, no matter when it be. You know, that rap hole there right beneath your chair is gonna be plenty big enough for me. You hear me? Plenty big enough for me. Yes, sir. You know, great moments come to every man. Some situation where he can attain such fame that folks acclaim the very mention of his name. Now the surfers fleet our town. One day three Bengal tigers got away. The manager, he looked right at me and said, son, here is your opportunity. Somebody's gotta go out and get them cast. Yes, sir, somebody's gotta go. Cause the old tiger man, he's sick in bed. Put on your hat and coat he said. Now the man that catches him alive a hero. Or he's going to be, you know, With a wonderful chance for somebody. Yes, somebody else not me. Knows us two ivory bones with ebony dots Awfully the cemeteries are a game Last night brought on a fight which finished up with pistol shots. I was the furthest from the door the others all got out before and behind me on flew a man made dead and through the transom Someone said, you know, somebody's got to stay behind Somebody must remain. And when the officers arrive Explain how king that he lies the man who stays and sees it through oh, he gains lots of notoriety. It was a wonderful chance A wonderful chance for somebody Somebody else not me. You had me. I said it was a wonderful chance A wonderful chance for somebody Somebody else not me. I always failed in grammar when I was back in school in spelling and in reading I was brilliant at a museum. But natural experience in life has taught me well and helped me Learn the meaning of some words that I never learned to spell. You know, once I thought that word inconvenience meaning was some kind of a bird. But now I'm going to demonstrate to you how well I know this word. Last night I met with Ms. Cinder Brown and she said her husband had just left town and she invited me to call around. Well, that was convenient. There was nobody there but me and she. We both were lonesome as could be. On everything you know we did agree. Well, that was some more convenience. Then she said, hon, don't you feel dry? What can I bring you? Some gin or rye? Well, let's have both was my reply. Boy, that you were convenient. She was reclining peacefully on my knee When I heard something like a key and Mr. Brown walked right in on me Boys, that was inconvenient I got into a big crab game and the boys, they took me for a lane the way I passed it was a shame man, that was convenient now them bones they sure did treat me nice for the every time that I got to die I made 7 or 11 twice didn't make no difference that was real convenient I won their hats and their coat and their shoes Boy, there's some the gambler's bruise. Twas cruel how those chumps get lose but never my convenience. Then came a guy named Jimbo Black he faded me for all my jacks when he took all I had and one back Brother, that was inconvenient.